Right then. You know that goosebump moment when You’ll Never Walk Alone starts echoing around Anfield? Yeah, George Sephton has been part of that magic since most of us were in short trousers.
In this Months episode of Misadventures in Music, Ian Prowse and Mick Ord sit down with the legend himself—George Sephton—Liverpool FC’s long-time stadium announcer, playlist curator, and general soundtracking wizard since 1971.
“I was just a lad who loved music and loved Liverpool.”
George’s story is what happens when your dream job sneaks up on you while you’re still holding a radio. He never planned to be the voice of one of the world’s most iconic football clubs, but one day he wrote a cheeky letter, asked for a shot, and got handed the microphone. And he’s never let go.
For over five decades, George has been the man behind the sound of Anfield—both the literal sound (announcements, intros, crowd hyping) and the emotional one (yes, he’s the reason you cried when Bowie played after a last-minute winner).
Highlights from the Episode:
- How George accidentally became the matchday voice of Liverpool FC.
- His approach to picking music that means something—not just chart stuff.
- What it’s like sitting up in that famous Main Stand perch watching football history unfold.
- Tales of clashing with club higher-ups over “unofficial” song choices (he once snuck Led Zeppelin into the playlist—scandalous).
- The importance of timing when you’re about to play You’ll Never Walk Alone.
Also: prepare yourself for an extremely wholesome tangent about meeting fans, dealing with nerves even after 50 years, and why George believes music has always been the secret sauce in football’s emotional power.
“When you play a certain song and the Kop sings along… you just know you’ve done your job.”
The episode’s a love letter to music, football, and the weird little moments where they meet. If you’ve ever stood in a stadium and felt your throat tighten during a song you didn’t even know you loved, George Sephton probably gets some of the credit.
Mick and Ian, of course, bring their usual mix of cheeky nostalgia and genuine curiosity—whether they’re asking about George’s musical taste (spoiler: it’s not all Beatles) or the weirdest thing he’s ever announced over the PA (let’s just say, it involves a runaway programme seller).
Get the book: https://atlantic-books.co.uk/book/the-voice-of-anfield/
Here’s George’s playlist – https://open.spotify.com/playlist/1wNxAIUyypPZOWKlMPKIND?si=25baf89d4c184856
